I’m Christian Payne, professional over-sharer, photographer and writer. In this weekly dispatch I seek out novelty, explore how we share, what we share and consume, plus where we might be going. Thanks for joining in. The above hug is for you.
#TheAction
Fibre has finally arrived in my village. I can't remember exactly when I was first excited about getting my own high-speed Internet, but the first time I personally experienced fibre to the home was while working for the British Council in Islamabad, Pakistan over fourteen years ago.
Back then I saw tidy house installs as well as cheap and easy aerial deployment, where fibre was trailed across rooftops to get where it needed to go.
Then four years ago, thanks to CyberDoyle and B4RN I got 500Mb/s to my camper van while parked on her farm.
And so this week I waited patiently, expectantly, excitedly, to finally get my own fibre to the home. Courtesy of the first company able to gouge up the village roads, Gigaclear.
But it never happened.
Expecting a knock at the door at any moment, I instead got a phone call telling me there had been an issue due to a tree that was in the way. Gigaclear had phoned me up telling me I needed to get permission to chop down a tree that was stood between the telegraph pole and my house. A tree on public land that has stood there proudly since the end of World War II. A tree that BT were happy to run our existing phone line through the middle of.
A friend of mine who installs fibre for a living, told me that this should be a simple ‘cut and draw’ job. Where the old cable is cut, tied to the fibre and then pulled through. There is no need to get permission to do anything to the tree. Due to ‘default wayleave’ which is a legal agreement that grants utility companies (like electricity, water and telecoms) the right to install and maintain their infrastructure on or over someone else's property or public space.
Giga clear told me not to worry, and that they would plant another two trees for every one felled. I told them I’d rather have a 60 foot tree with established ecosystem over faster internet and could they not plant another telegraph pole instead.
First world problems I know.
I got into London this week. For inspiration and escape. But mostly to meet an old friend. I also got to explore some photo galleries.
I enjoyed wandering with my camera. Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, beauty in the mundane. A witness to little noticed things.
#ThePictures
While in London I enjoyed the work of Raúl Cañibano in his exhibition Human Landscapes at the Photographer’s Gallery.
I was viewing with my friend John Perivolaris who met Raúl Cañibano in Cuba and is still in touch. He tells me that Raúl took the image above (entitled Chambas, Cuba, 2017) with a damaged waterlogged lens. Nice effect and just goes to show how imperfections can introduce unique characteristics and visual effects. A welcome aberration that might add a little vintage charm to an image. Or in this case a dream-like quality.
I’m used to lens flare and vignetting contributing to the overall mood and aesthetics of a photo, but now realise water trapped in a lens can also add character to a shot. Not sure if this shot above was an accident, or if Raúl was at this point using the effect to his benefit. But I’m sure it would be very hit and miss as it’s hard to tell what a lens issue might produce in the final image when using a rangefinder.
Just in case you ever need to. Here’s how you measure milliseconds accurately.
#TheWords
"what?" they say, "you got a
computer?"
it's like I have sold out to
the enemy.
I had no idea so many
people were prejudiced
against
computers.
even two editors have
written me letters about
the computer.
one disparaged the
computer in a mild and
superior way.
the other seemed
genuinely
pissed.
I am aware that a
computer can't create
a poem.
but neither can a
typewriter.
yet, still, once or
twice a week
I hear:
"what?
you have a
computer?
you?"
yes, I do
and I sit up here
almost every
night,
sometimes with
beer or
wine,
sometimes
without
and I work the
computer.
the damn thing
even corrects
my spelling.
and the poems
come flying
out,
better than
ever.
I have no
idea what causes
all this
computer
prejudice.
me?
I want to go
the next step
beyond the
computer.
I'm sure it's
there.
and when I get
it,
they'll say,
"hey, you hear,
Chinaski got a
space-biter!"
"what?"
"yes, it's true!"
"I can't believe
it!"
and I'll also have
some beer or
some wine
or maybe nothing
at all
and I'll be
85 years old
driving it home
to
you and me
and to the little girl
who lost her
sheep.
or her
computer.~ Charles Bukowski
I have a few poetry books from Bukowski but had not heard how some thought he was a Nazi sympathiser. Some recent research debunks that myth.
Last night I saw my lad stood in the dark, commenting on a web form sent to him by the School. He had come downstairs as we don’t allow devices in the bedroom. He was livid that they wanted to ban phones in the classroom and was arguing against it. I didn’t see a problem with the proposal.
Then today I read in the Atlantic more research on how the advent of mobile devices has changed childhood. There’s a stark rise in mental health issues among adolescents, especially from the early 2010s with widespread adoption of smartphones and social media. There’s also a significant increase in depression, anxiety, and suicide among Gen Z. Paralleled by declines in social interaction and academic performance. This is not just in the U.S. but globally.
The solution proposed advocates for urgent societal and cultural adjustments. Including delaying access to smartphones and social media, promoting phone-free educational environments, and encouraging real-world interactions. We have certain strict restrictions still in place at home and I feel a little vindicated that the messaging is getting more mainstream. I can’t help think it might be too little too late though.
#TheSound
I’ve been slowly working through my collection of yet to be heard, found and gifted cassette tapes. Anything I have already, that has wah or flutter, or is just not to my liking, goes in the attic. Anything that sounds interesting gets promoted to the regular listening shelf.
Between this and listening to vinyl, it’s been an analogue music focused week. Although nothing quite as analogue as the following…
More info on this project here.
Find their music and while you do that enjoy the site.
#TheConsumed
There was a joke in the back channel that I should have a dedicated section called Condimentally [raises eyebrow].
But it’s true. I do like condiments and it’s no uncommon that after serving dinner I’ll head to the fridge to collect arms full of jars and bottle. Just in case something ‘goes well’ with the meal.
This good chilli was a gift from a good friend and i’m pretty sure it will go with lots of things. If you can take the heat.
It’s named Kathiyawadi Chilli Pickle and takes its inspiration from a Gujarati household favourite. Specifically from the Saurashtra peninsular also called Kathiyawad.
The main ingredient is geen chillies. There’s a lot of them. And I don’t trust the two out of three chillies icon on the side. It’s easy four out of three.
There’s also mustard seeds for a pungent bitter twist, fenugreek Seeds (methi), which are also slightly bitter but also nutty in flavour, plus asafoetida with oil and vinegar. It gets its colour from the chillies and turmeric powder and is balanced with a little sugar.
Over all it packs a tasty punch and I’m yet to find a savoury food stuff not enhanced by it.
#TheBody
This article on how whisky saved the head baker of the Titanic seems to fly in the face of numerous other articles reporting that alcohol in your system increases the risk of hypothermia. But this study entitled ‘Effect of alcohol on thermal balance of man in cold water’ states “the high incidence of alcohol involvement in water-related fatalities is due to alcohol potentiation of accidents rather than any direct effects on cold water survival.”
#TheThings
I’ve been keeping away from charity shops aka thrift stores as so much tempts me. Especially cameras. Check out this haul.
#TheThanks
Firstly, thank you to the supporting subscribers. You are the best. If you’ve still not got access to the discord let me know. And also thank you to those who read all the words and click at least a few of the links. Sharing and ‘liking’ this post activates some kind of algorithm to do something, but ultimately, if this dispatch is of any use to you, please consider supporting my writing with a full subscription.
Living is not cheap right now and it might be that for some £3.92 ($5) per month is too much of an extravagance. If that’s the case I’ve made the following button for you.
#TheWeb
Why go imperial in a world gone metric?
NSFW. ‘There are (still) dark corners of the internet’.
Email explained.
New Creative Era dot com
There are still a few of you not on the Documentally community map
The first major act to regulate A.I.
Why you need to make a ‘when I die’ file before it’s too late. Although you can still get things done from the afterlife.
Interesting how minimalism.com has a shop where you can get more minimalism in your life.
A letter from TBL marking the webs 35th birthday.
Some of my other places include Flickr, Discogs, Strava, LinkedIn, YouTube, Mastodon, am amateur radio newsletter or search ‘Documentally’ on Wire, Birdsite, Bluesky or Daft Social.
#TheEnd
Thanks for reading. On Sunday I hope to be at the Photo & Video show at the NEC. See you there? And next week I’ll be doing something out of the ordinary. There will be some kind of post. But perhaps not in the main channel.
Spring feels close here in the UK. Enjoy!
“The key to a wonderful life is to never stop wandering into wonder.” ~ Suzy Kassem
Be.
See you out there.
Over…
Thanks for sharing the Atlantic article, very interesting and confirms everything I suspected… phone are allowed at my son’s high school with not much regulation and it really isn’t great. Experimenting with a new at home system where so long as he does a certain amount of other stuff that he likes to do (running, birdwatching, walking the dog, reading, spending time with the family etc) he can, between sensible morning and evening limits, do what he likes. Working so far and a lot easier to monitor. Screentime is hardest part of being a parent - and a kid!